And those who strive hard for Us, We will most certainly guide them in Our ways; and Allah is most surely with the doers of good. 29:69 The Quran

Hajj: A Tremendous Show of

'Unity of Faith'

Dr. Syed Javed Hussain

Hajj, with largest concentration of human beings on earth, is the blessing of God. Only Islam has such a show to tell the world at large that all Islamic prayers condensed in Hajj have a practical expression of Unity of faith, culture and ethnicity. They have discipline, brotherhood, spirit of accommodation and universal fraternity.

Anyone who starts this journey towards Mecca, first divorces his identity, and everything which is regional, local, territorial, and myopic and becomes at once a member of a larger entity/whole which is one in dress, culture, behaviour, relation to God, in rituals, in language, in its call to God and above all in twenty-four hours routine.

Individual Becomes an Expression ofTauhid

Now he is not an individual. He himself has become an expression of Tauhid(Oneness)— the message of unity and solidarity as against disunity and individuality, which is an expression of “shirk”. Any one who is not able to do so and remains an individual, he certainly has not touched the spirit of Hajj. He has not performed Hajj and has not fulfilled his responsibility as Muslim and thus may not deserve any reward.

Hajj provides a gigantic platform toUmmahto make known to the world its true character and nature. It provides huge opportunity toUmmahto express its identity of views on social, political, cultural, ethnic, economic and foreign affairs and thus relate the message ofTauhidto the contemporary challenges besetting the Islamic World.

Saudi Leadership Should Acknowledge the Vitality of Hajj

By acceding to the Quranic teachings Saudi Leadership should acknowledge the vitality and potential of Hajj and frustrate the designs of the detractors of Islam who are doing everything within their means to neutralize the impact of this great Islamic congregation.

In the Holy Qur’an God Almighty says, “You are absolved to trade for livelihood betaking yourselves to Providence for His bounty. And when you throng back from Mount Arafat then thankfully praise God at the Sacred Mount-Muzdalifa-and thankfully extol His glorious attributes for steering you to the path of rectitude although initially your were lost in the maze of error.” 2:198. Generally accepted meanings of the translation of 5:97 go like this: 'God has made the Ka’ba, the sacrosanct House, the Mecca of mankind and the aspiration of one’s life to visit for material and spiritual reformation.’

Islam enjoins both the corporal and the spiritual aspects of human existence and considers both of them as important constituents of Shakespeare’s ‘paragon of beauty’ called “the best make” 95:4 and all acts of omissions and commissions respecting the commands of God are calledIbada(Prayer).

According to the Holy Qur’an when people say, “Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of the fire” 2:201 God says, “They shall have (their) portion of what they have earned, and Allah is swift in reckoning.”

Hajj in pre-Islamic Times

Even in pre-Islamic times the month of Hajj yielded tremendous benefits to the pagans as well as believing people of Arabia. People recognised sanctity of this month, and a general amnesty was declared for everyone that protected their trade and their caravans. It opened their markets and enabled them to exchange their merchandised freely.

Islam further sanctified the peace and stability of Mecca and disciplined the life of Meccans during and after the month of Hajj for the whole year. It made all kinds of violence, bloodshed and aggression unlawful in the vicinity of Mecca. An absolute freedom from coercion, intimidation and fear was granted so that people perused their intellectual, spiritual, economic and social leanings in an atmosphere of peace and serenity.

Saudi Arab Rendering Invaluable Services toUmmah

One cannot discount the fact that the Government of Saudi Arab is rendering invaluable services toUmmahby arranging for such a large number of Muslims across the globe to perform Hajj peacefully. At the same time, however, there is yet another greater responsibility laid on it to exploit fully the spirit of Hajj for aggrandising the stature, strength and dignity of MuslimUmmahthrough Hajj.

Muslims come and display a great show of Muslim brotherhood, unity of theUmmah, and discipline. Only these energies are to be channelled and given voice. Especially, in the present times whenUmmahis facing challenges of unknown magnitude, we need to look at Hajj not only as a body of rituals but as an institution sustaining both power and virility as well as spirituality to MuslimUmmah.

Hajj can yield tremendous political, cultural, social, economic and foreign policy benefits. Only we need to explore them. “...Surely Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change their own condition.” 13:11.